Building block



Jan. 11, 1949. I R. P. HESTER 2,459,028

- n BUILDING BLOCK Filed Sept. 5, 1946 2 She'ets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

Jan. 11, 1949.

Filed Sept. 5, 1846 R. P. HESTER BUILDING BLOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 )v/Q Q s 132 r s 1 22 Q INVENTOR. fiizssef/ Hes/er BY reamed. 11, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE um fir-B68653 s unammalian! ecu-n. (an-m Thisinventionrelatestoconeretebuilding into a central chamberiormedinalowerblock.

and the confronting end walls of horizontally aligned blocks are so arranged and comtructed as to provide a chamber to receive binder cement to thereby bind the blocks together in horimntal series.

A further object of this invention is to provide a concrete building block which is formed with an inclined outer side and a lower depending flange ior overlapping engagement with the upper outer edge of a lower block to thereby eliminate capillary movement of moisture through the joints between superposed blocks.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the "1 w combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away and in section, of a wall constructed from concrete blocks embodying this invention,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of an opening forming block,

Figure 3 is ai p ctiveviewofoneofthewall forming blocks,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly in section, showing the use of the opening forming blocks,

Figure 5 is an end elevation of a wall formed with blocks embodying this invention.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical section showing the joints between the abutting ends of these blocks,

Figure 'l is a perspectiveviewofoneoftheinner corner forming blocks.

Figure 8 is a detail front elevation, partly broken away, and in section, or the block shown in Figure I.

Referring to the the numeral ll designates generally a rectangularly shaped block which is formed of inner and outer walls II and i2. The walls ii 'and ii are by means of end walls and M whichare spaced inwardly from the adiacent verflcal edges of the 2 mentary chambers II and It to receive the binder cement. Where theblocks II are disposed in end abutting relation the abutting block will also have a complementary binder cement chamber for receiving the binder cement so that the end edges of the inner and outer walls of the block may be disposed in abutting relation.

The block II also includes a pair of intermediate transverse walls I I, I9, forming a chamber 2| therebetween. The block III, as shown in Fi ure 3. includes as depending lip or locking member 2| which is adapted to engage a portion of the chamber 2! of a lower block. The outer sides of conforming lips are adapted to be disposed as shown in Figure 6, in confronting and contacting relation so as to close the lower end of the combined chamber formed by the confronting ends of abutting blocks. The binder cement 22 is then inserted in the combined chamber so as to thereby firmly secure and seal the ends of adjacent blocks together The lips 2! are substantially one-half the width of the chamber 2| so that when two blocks are disposed in abutting relation, the upper end of the chamber 2| will be closed by these lips and the walls ii, i! will lock the blocks together against lengthwise movement. The outer side or surface 23 or the outer wall i2 is inclined to the vertical. being inclined downwardly. and outwardly, and the outer wall terminates at its lower end in as depending flange It. The flange 24 is adapted to overlap the upper end of a lower block so as to prevent the entrance of water in the joint between superposed blocks, and also eliminate the passage of water by capillary attraction.

A: shown'in Figure 1, the concrete block llic mav be used for outer corners by forming the and lie to receive the depending lips of superimposedblocksasshowninrlgure 6. I

Where the block is used for an inner corner, the wall I: is formed with a vertical outer surrace 21 for substantially one-half the length of the outer wall, as shown in Figure '7.- The abutting end of a block ll, having achamber I6, is adapted to engage against the flat vertical side inner and outer walls so as to thereby form frag- 55 surface 21 of the inside corner block, and cement 3 or other binder material may be poured into the chamber I6. Theinside corner block, which is designated Inc, is also formed with a pair of intermediate transverse walls Ito and I911 to receive the depending lips of superposed blocks as shown in Figure 6. The lowermost block-I01; which is adapted to engage on the upper's'urface of the foundation 28, has the locking lips 2| thereof removed or eliminated so that the blocks llib will rest flat on the upper surface of the foundation, 28.

The outer surface of the block lob is inclined to the vertical. being inclined downwardly and outwardly as-indicated at 28, and a depending flange 3| is formed integral with the outer wall lib of the block llib and is adapted to overlap the upper outer corner of the foundation 28.

In order to provide for the formation of openings in a wall which is being formed by these blocks, such as window or door openings, I have provided a rectangular block 3| This block 3| includes inner and outer walls 32, 33, the outer wall 33 having a depending outer flange SI for overlapping engagement with 'the upper end of a lower block. The block 3! also includes one end wall disposed inwardly from adjacent vertical edges of the inner and outer walls 32, 33, and also includes a second end wall 36. The wall 38 is formed with an opening or recess 31 for receiving an anchoring block 38.

The outer wall 33 is also formed with an end flange 38 so that the inner portion of the block 3| may overlap a vertically opening frame piece 40 as shown in Figure 4. The frame piece 40 is adapted to be nailed or otherwise secured to the inset blocks 38 which engage in the recesses or openings 37. The superposed blocks may be bolted together by means of an elongated bar I, as shown in Figure 5. The lower end of the bar II is formed with a substantially right angular anchoring member "which is embedded in the foundation 2!. The bar 42 extends upwardly in the space between one intermediate wall and an end wall, and a. clamping'nut 43 is threaded on the upper end of the rod ll and bears against a washer II which engages on the upper side of a plate 45.

With a concrete block construction as hereinbefore describedthe outer wall of each block is formed with a relatively smooth surface, and as superposed blocks overlap each other there is formed a lapped appearance on the outer side of the wall. These blocks may be disposed with their ends in abutting relation so that the joint between the blocks will be substantially concealed. Furthermore. the cement or binder which is disposed between superposed tiers of blocks will be concealed or covered by the overlapping lower flanges of the upperblocks so that moisture cannot enter the joint through the'binder material.

I do not mean to confine myself to the exact details of construction herein disclosed, but claim all variations falling within the purview of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A concrete building block comprising upstanding inner and outer walls, opposite end walls extending from the top edge to .the bottom edge of said inner and outer walls and spaced inwardly from the end edges thereof connecting said inner and outer walls together, a pair of spaced apart intermediate walls between said inner and outer walls and extending to the top edge thereof, a lip depending from the bottom edge of each of said end walls and extending below the bottom edge of said inner and outer walls, said lip being substantially the width of one-half the distance between said spaced apart intermediate walls, whereby the lips of adjacent blocks may be locked in the space between the spaced apart intermediate walls of. the block below, and the outer side of said lips being coplanar with said end edges whereby the outer sides of the lips of adjacent blocks will be in substantial contact for closing the lower end of the chamber formed between the adjacent inwardly spaced end walls.

2. A concrete building block comprising inner and outer walls, opposite end walls extending from the top edge to the bottom edge thereof and spaced inwardly from the end edges thereof connecting said inner and outer walls, a pair of spaced apart intermediate walls on opposite sides of the longitudinal median of said block between said inner and outer walls and extending to the top edge thereof, a lip depending from the bottom edge of each of said end walls and extending below the bottom edge of said inner and outer walls, the width of said lip being substantially one-half the distance between said spaced apart intermediate walls and the outer side of said lips being coplanar with said end edges whereby the depending lips of adjacent blocks may be locked Y in the space between the intermediate walls of the block below and whereby the outer sides of the said lips will be in substantial contact for closing the lower end of the chamber formed between the adjacent inwardly spaced end walls.

RUSSELL P. HES'I'ER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

